Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-05-12
rxrrnsrArn ooMMnnos.
One Of the hmnpesitIOns " hlch has
Been knocked Out.
al..i.Iu Aa..s.s..a

Fhllndoiphia Record
The simple plan by which the Union
Pacific railroad and other transportation
companies worked their short-haul policy
was 10 charge shippers at interior nom
competitive points the through rate for
the long haul, and, In addition, the local
rate for the short haul. OF course, goods
were not carried through from New York
TO San Francisco and thence back TO the
non. n.competitiye point In the interior, but
the charges were as much AZ II they had
been carried on past the non.competitive
point and then back. A car load of goods
for some such interior point as Elko,
New, would be delivered there, but it
would be billed from New York to San
Francisco OF the through rate, and then
there would be separate local bill OF
lRding for the short-haul. II was q more
fiction of railroad bookkeeping. Here are
few examples furnished by Senator Beck
of Kentucky, In reply to Senator Platt Of
Connecticut, in the debate on the Inter
state Commerce bill. They may be found
in the Congressional Record, volume n,
part 4, page 4,317:
Through rate New York 10 San Fran
cisco, $500 miles, $500. Short haul, San
Francisco to Elko, 619 miles, $500. Total
freight 10 Elko, 1851 miles from New
York, $500. &. ...ss..s.i
Through Sato, $500 milos, 5000. Short
haul, San Francisco TO Winnemueca, 475
miles, $4l6, Total freight to Winnie
mucoa, 1895 miles from New York, ~ i6.
Through rate, 8, 800 miles, $500. short
haul, San Francisco TO Reno, 306 miles,
1926. Total from New York to Reno,
1894 miles from New York, 1886.
Against law that is designed to sup
press gigantic iniquity like this the
benefciaries, advocates, organs and tools
of railroad monopoly have arrayed th. NJ
selves. Arailroad built by the money and
i lands Of the people of the United States ID
made an instrument for harrying and
robbing the inhabitants along ita route.
Farmers and mechanics in the interior
must pay double, and sometimes treble,
the rate Of freight across the continent
from coast to coast because they are a'
the mercy of monopoly created by gov
eminent subsidy. An when a law tc
abate the iniquity is put in force all the
hirelings of monopoly CRY out in disina
ululations over the mischievous effect'
and consequences of such legislation.
Instead of reducing the rates for thu
short-haul to the long-haul rates, th'
Union Pacific and other corporation
have raised the through charges fol
freight so as to make them agree with th'
charges for the lesser distances. Thi
they have perfect right to do under th'
law. But they can no longer chaig
shippers twice or three times as much a
the through rate for hauling goods owe
only portion of their lines. In the Gus
of the Union Pacific there is one obstaoi
to the accomplishment of its programin'
of conforming to the law by increasing
the rate for through freight
TO the local standard shippers ii
San francisco have the choice o
water by the isthmus or around BY Cap
, Horn. Transit on that line is somewha
| slow, but it has the advantage of chenp
ness. When the Union Pacific Railroad
Company shall find the grain, wool, win
and other staples of California taking tn
water route they will soon come to terms
They will again fix their rates of througl
/ freight to compete with water transporta
r tion, as they have done hitherto, and i
doing so they will be obliged to abandon
, their oppressive short-haul policy. Thu
! ! one great object of the law, the relief 9
, the peopls along the route Of the Pacii
/ railroads, will have been achieved. .
little patience, gentlemen, and the Intel
2 state Commerce law will be found IN q,
; cellent institution. .--5---4- ...--